Besiktas boss Slaven Bilic is bullish about his side’s chances against Arsenal but admits the Gunners are clear favourite to progress from the Champions League qualifier double-header.
The former West Ham and Everton player took over the reigns at the Istanbul outfit just over a year ago having developed a reputation for blood and thunder exuberance during six years as coach of the Croatian national team.
Indulging in typically fiery rhetoric the 45-year-old insisted that his players weren’t turning up for a couple of selfies with the Gunners main men, dismissing even the prospect of a snap with Mikel Arteta’s gloriously stiff barnet.
“We are not here to take selfies with Arsenal on the pitch, we are here to battle to the end,” Bilic told press ahead of tomorrow’s game (translation by Turkish Football).
“Don’t expect our players to take selfies with Alexis Sanchez and Arteta, we believe we can qualify and will do everything we can to make it happen.
“We know who we are playing very well, Arsenal may be favourites however, this doesn’t mean we are going to lay down and roll over.
“Look at the Champions League logo behind me, they say a picture tells a thousand words well look at that logo, that is where we want to be, that is our plan, that is our dream and we will do everything we can to get there.”
We’ll hear what Arsene has to say in response to that in the coming couple of hours. Presumably, he’ll not be advocating selfies either, which could come as a shock to Wojciech Szczesny…
Mind games. Be careful Arsenal. Demba Ba wants to play CL.
Ye, and with the current state of our defense, the occasional slip up is likely to occur, and we know how capable Demba Ba is at capitalizing on a slip up. So lets hope we dont slip up, so that Ba dont get the chance to end our Champions Legue dreams like he ended the scousers title hopes last season.
very subtle
Bilic the player who got Laurent Blanc sent off by cheating in the World Cup Semi final 1998 and thus making him miss the final.
Nasty piece of work
This guy is a cunt on Football Manager… I don’t have much else to say, so I’ll just leave now
Yeah, but in the five seasons I’ve played on Football Manager John Terry has never been a cunt and Suarez has never bit anyone. I’m beginning to think Football Manager may not be reality…….nah….
As always…
WHAT??? AS ALWAYS WHAT??? I’M REALLY DYING TO KNOW?
…Bilic, feeling the itch and talking bullox. What else? 😉
😀
I will be leaving now, and you won’t be seeing me for a while…
Err…calm down, Mr. WengersNoseHair
2011/12 – Ten reasons why Udinese can beat Arsenal…: http://talksport.com/magazine/features/2011-08-16/10-reasons-why-udinese-can-beat-arsenal-tonights-champions-league-qualifier
2013/2014 – Ersun Yanal: “As a team we are strong enough to finish the challenge which is in front of us.
“We are competing to be in the first lane (of the group stage).”
“My players need to be ready to play a more dynamic, play more up-tempo.”
2014/15 – Slaven Bilic: “We are here to battle to the end,….. we believe we can qualify and will do everything we can to make it happen.
Perhaps that clears things up a bit?
Chesney won’t hear you, Bilic!
He best be happy Poldi’s not coming!
Arsene’s fiery response ‘eh yes, we also want to qualify’
Mirror exclusive ‘BILIC DRAWS ANGRY RETORT FROM WENGER – Is Arsene losing it already?’
Well no need to do their job for them @Edu’s Braces
Lol, they’ll take selfies, I gurantee it.
Reading that quote that felt like been tied in a room and having to hear music that’s made “Just-in Beiber” on repeat…
Am Sure we just found another “CB”? 😉
Well poldi isn’t in the team… Oh wait! There’s szczesney.. Don’t worry coach, your players won’t take selfies.. Ours will.. with them of course.. After we win
One thing I can say for certain is Bilic needs to stop smoking cigarettes
Let’s settle this fairly. Best selfie wins.
Away selfies count double but not in extra time.
Szczesney to get us underway.
Anyone else think that in the picture, Bilic looks like someone who’s about to take a suitcase of automatic weapons somewhere and start screaming about how the king of the Potato People told him to do it?
That’s the mentality that can help you achieve more than your capabilities suggest on paper. Besiktas will win with Ba scoring a hattrick and Arsenal’s make shift defense will only watching in agony. If only, you’d think, if only… If only Wenger bought adequate cover in defense. He had enough time, enough resources and enough players willing to join yet he didn’t sign a cb or a cdm. Wenger doesn’t know what he is doing. Wengerout. So what if he won two trophies in the last three matches? Wenger must go. I am the gennext Arsenal fan. I will pass… Read more »
I know you’re joking, but I feel like I hate you now
I’m getting the impression you’re taking the piss, but honestly…….why even bother typing drivel like this even if you’re not serious?? There’s enough moronic “supporters” trying to flood well-meaning blogs like this one, so we definitely don’t need “fake trolls” also.
I just want to say WHY WOULD WE IN ANY WAY WANT TO SIGN VARGAS ? TO GIVE HIM A LONDON HOLIDAY ? Then sign me please
The nervosity of this! How can I be expected to finish that report at work tomorrow? Shit talking shiitake shrooms!
Lets just to talk on the pitch, shall we?
Well he’s talking a good game. Hopefully it will be our team that produces the good game!!!!
Bilic says they will do anything to get there. Besiktas will play dirty, physical and will try to bully our boys I can see it. Watch out boys Bilic was a bully himself back in the day.
For some reason, my weary eyes read that as “Bilic bullshit about Besiktas’ chances”…
Hah! I wasn’t going to say anything because I thought it was just me!
League just started and CL starting, already short of players? What is the missing piece here and who is gonna fix it if it’s the case?
Taking selfies Lol. His comment Just shows how huge The Arsenal became.
I love it.
1 Arsene Wenger
All this means is if we win the selfies will be a whole lot sweeter!
Bilic just wants a pic with the HFB only
Bilic billy bullshit bonkers.
Piss off.
Sounds like an high school football team coach…
Bilic has been good for Besiktas, sorted out the defense. But they play slowly, Arsenal on an average performance should do the job comfortably. Also the Olympic stadium is a terrible venue for football games and the Besiktas support will be much less felt. I expect 3-1 today, arsenal win.
Is it just me or this guy looks like theon greyjoy from game of thrones????
I don’t know too much about Bilic, but I prefer his honesty over the “little pony” bullshit that Mourinho was talking about last year. Of course they want to win, and of course they’ll give 100%, but so do we. We just have to make sure we’re the better team.
I remember Slaven Bilic as a really excellent player. He does well as a manager too, with the same passion he played with. His comment is fair and respectful. Of course he believes in his team.